Birth defects in Gaza due to illegal weapons used by Israeli occupation forces during their war of aggression, January 2009

Saturday September 26, 2009 01:14 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported Friday that eight months after the Israeli war ended, several birth defect cases were reported among the Gaza Strip newborns.

Dr. Mu'awiya Hassanain, director of the Emergency department at the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, stated that several newborn babies have heart defects and abnormalities.

He said that such cases are caused by Israel’s use of illegal munitions against the civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Dr. Hassanain further said that five cases appeared after the war, and that illegal weapons were used by Israel in several areas in the coastal region, especially in Al-Zaitoun neighborhood in Gaza, Izbit Abed-Rabbo, and the Gaza valley, the Maan News Agency reported.

He said that several international researchers and specialists from France and Italy took samples of the mentions used by the Israeli army in Gaza, and found that the army used white phosphorous, and Dense Inert Metal Explosive which could cause biological defects on fetuses, Maan added.

Gaza MoH fears banned weapons causing birth defects

Published yesterday (updated) 25/09/2009 22:10

Gaza – Ma'an –

Eight months after Israel's assault on Gaza came to an end, the effects of their weapons were just beginning to be felt via deformities among the Strip's newborns, a Health Ministry official said on Friday.

"We have found cases among newborn babies involving heart defects and brain abnormalities," insisted Dr Mu'awiyah Hassenain, director of the ministry's ambulance and emergency services department.

"Five of these cases appeared following the Israeli war," he added, blaming the purported deformities on "Israel's use of internationally prohibited weapons against the civilians of Gaza."

Hassanain said the weapons in question were predominantly used in the central Strip, specifically the Al-Zahra neighborhood, eastern Al-Zaitoun neighborhood, Izbat Abed Rabbu and the Gaza Valley.

Researchers have documented Israel's use of white phosphorus and other weaponry, while some have alleged it also used the Dense Inert Metal Explosive (DIME), as well, which could cause biological effects on fetuses.

"International researchers and experts from France and Italy took samples to examine them in European labs," Hassanain said. "We're still waiting on the results of these examinations."

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